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Levels of micro-plastics are rising across the Mediterranean Sea, new study shows

cde.news desk · 1 min read
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epa07322210 Millions of pieces of plastic, micro plastics and debris are seen in the ocean as a free diver collects plastic during the Big Ocean Clean Up in Hermanus, South Africa, 26 January 2019. The Hermanus Big Ocean Clean Up is part of a four year ongoing marine debris survey co-ordinated by the South African Shark Conservancy combining with various environmental groups including Sea the Bigger Picture, Oceano Reddentes and Sea Shepherd. Various schools also participated with over 300 people collecting over 800 kilograms of debris in the clean up of a ten kilometer stretch of coastline both in the ocean and on land. Of particular concern was the massive amount of plastics encountered in the water. Hermanus is famous for its whale watching and pristine views but the reality of massive marine pollution under the water is a major concern for environmentalists. EPA-EFE/NIC BOTHMA

Levels of microplastics are rising across the Mediterranean Sea, according to marine biologists who have spent six years studying the scale of the problem.

Euronews reports that a lot of plastic waste that ends up in the sea is eroded down into microplastics and eaten by smaller fish, which in turn enter the human food chain. New evidence also showed the extent of climate change, specifically with the discovery of a tropical algae in the Egadi Islands, west of Sicily.

According to the report alarming results from plankton samples are related to data which comes from Project Mediterranean — a floating laboratory that has been touring the waters to build a picture of the extent of pollution. It found large amounts of garbage on the seabed, mainly in areas where the currents form vortices.

Professor Adriano Madonna said that “the production of plastic in the world increases of nine percent every year.” Madonna is a leading marine biologist at the University of Naples.

“When it is possible, let’s go back to glass, let’s go back to glass, which can be recycled.”

Via Euronews 

Topics EnvironmentMediterranean SeamicroplasticsProject Mediterranean